Around The League

[emunney]

Silver is giving Manfred a run for his money at being the worst commissioner in sports. Don't let his looks or soft demeanor fool you, he's a snake. Making the NBA some glamourous elitist sport that only caters to celebs and the 1%. When your league is more enamored with off-the-court drama and not the product on the floor, you have failed.

Because of the all star game?

I thought everybody here hates the all star game and couldn't care less about it.

I think it goes well beyond just the all-star game. To how the product is marketed, how it's covered in the media, and the actions of the commissioner to harm small markets every step of the way. Just look at the new language in the CBA and how the penalties for being over the tax increase. I don't think that would have happened if there weren't small-market teams like Milwaukee having extended success and keeping their superstar no matter how badly the league wanted him in a bigger market.

The big structural stuff this regime has done accomplished more for small markets than all the previous league administrations combined. No commissioner has prioritized small markets more in how the CBAs have been negotiated, and it shows in the product through the flattening of the talent distribution. It's not quite the hard cap we used to always call for before we had a roster worth spending money on, but it's pretty close in practice and getting closer every year. Definitely not perfect and this ASG shifting goal posts thing is frustrating, but the [by far] biggest thing is closer to correct than it's ever been.

There are underlying issues inherent to the locations of the franchises that will never get sorted out -- the type of city and weather where people generally and particularly young people with lots of money want to be is the biggest one -- but what the league can control it has controlled to the benefit of franchises like ours.

The biggest current problem in the league is illegal screens. That's not a competition issue, though, it's an offense/defense balance thing, and it pre-dates Silver.

[MikeIsGood]

I thought Jordan Poole being moved to the bench was interesting, considering surely the Wizards are tanking and could use his mediocrity (or worse). And I still think it's interesting from that regard.

But it got me to go look at his stats, and...I mean...is he maybe having one of the worst seasons of all time for a qualifying player with a usage at his level?

USG: 25.2%

TS: 50.9%
VORP: -1.5
WS: -1.1

Splits: 39/30/85

I don't know how to query such things without a BBRef subscription, but it's really impressively bad.

[Matches Malone]

Because of the all star game?

I thought everybody here hates the all star game and couldn't care less about it.

I think it goes well beyond just the all-star game. To how the product is marketed, how it's covered in the media, and the actions of the commissioner to harm small markets every step of the way. Just look at the new language in the CBA and how the penalties for being over the tax increase. I don't think that would have happened if there weren't small-market teams like Milwaukee having extended success and keeping their superstar no matter how badly the league wanted him in a bigger market.

The big structural stuff this regime has done accomplished more for small markets than all the previous league administrations combined. No commissioner has prioritized small markets more in how the CBAs have been negotiated, and it shows in the product through the flattening of the talent distribution. It's not quite the hard cap we used to always call for before we had a roster worth spending money on, but it's pretty close in practice and getting closer every year. Definitely not perfect and this ASG shifting goal posts thing is frustrating, but the [by far] biggest thing is closer to correct than it's ever been.

I guess I don't understand why he's changing the CBA to hinder small markets now. Why take away the only competitive advantage of keeping a team together in a small market? As you said, young players with money want to go to markets with nice weather and everything that comes with the nightlife and so those markets are already ahead of the curve in terms of free agency pitches, buyout players, superstars demanding trades to their market etc... Small markets ability to sustain success by paying a tax is all they have in terms of keeping talent whereas a big market team can retool on the fly because all the players want to go to those few markets so they'll always have their pick of players.

[Matches Malone]

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[emunney]

I think it goes well beyond just the all-star game. To how the product is marketed, how it's covered in the media, and the actions of the commissioner to harm small markets every step of the way. Just look at the new language in the CBA and how the penalties for being over the tax increase. I don't think that would have happened if there weren't small-market teams like Milwaukee having extended success and keeping their superstar no matter how badly the league wanted him in a bigger market.

The big structural stuff this regime has done accomplished more for small markets than all the previous league administrations combined. No commissioner has prioritized small markets more in how the CBAs have been negotiated, and it shows in the product through the flattening of the talent distribution. It's not quite the hard cap we used to always call for before we had a roster worth spending money on, but it's pretty close in practice and getting closer every year. Definitely not perfect and this ASG shifting goal posts thing is frustrating, but the [by far] biggest thing is closer to correct than it's ever been.

I guess I don't understand why he's changing the CBA to hinder small markets now. Why take away the only competitive advantage of keeping a team together in a small market? As you said, young players with money want to go to markets with nice weather and everything that comes with the nightlife and so those markets are already ahead of the curve in terms of free agency pitches, buyout players, superstars demanding trades to their market etc... Small markets ability to sustain success by paying a tax is all they have in terms of keeping talent whereas a big market team can retool on the fly because all the players want to go to those few markets so they'll always have their pick of players.

I don't know how you figure the CBA has been changed to hinder small markets. It's been changed to hinder talent accumulation. If it's hurt small markets, the standings have a funny way of showing it.

[Matches Malone]

The big structural stuff this regime has done accomplished more for small markets than all the previous league administrations combined. No commissioner has prioritized small markets more in how the CBAs have been negotiated, and it shows in the product through the flattening of the talent distribution. It's not quite the hard cap we used to always call for before we had a roster worth spending money on, but it's pretty close in practice and getting closer every year. Definitely not perfect and this ASG shifting goal posts thing is frustrating, but the [by far] biggest thing is closer to correct than it's ever been.

I guess I don't understand why he's changing the CBA to hinder small markets now. Why take away the only competitive advantage of keeping a team together in a small market? As you said, young players with money want to go to markets with nice weather and everything that comes with the nightlife and so those markets are already ahead of the curve in terms of free agency pitches, buyout players, superstars demanding trades to their market etc... Small markets ability to sustain success by paying a tax is all they have in terms of keeping talent whereas a big market team can retool on the fly because all the players want to go to those few markets so they'll always have their pick of players.

I don't know how you figure the CBA has been changed to hinder small markets. It's been changed to hinder talent accumulation. If it's hurt small markets, the standings have a funny way of showing it.

We haven't seen its effects yet, have we? Teams over the tax are going to face bigger punitive damages moving forward. You're talking about talent being spread out, but I'm talking about how a team can sustain success. Just interesting timing considering we are seeing more small market teams having success as you continually point out to me...

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

No commissioner has prioritized small markets more in how the CBAs have been negotiated, and it shows in the product through the flattening of the talent distribution. It's not quite the hard cap we used to always call for before we had a roster worth spending money on, but it's pretty close in practice and getting closer every year. Definitely not perfect and this ASG shifting goal posts thing is frustrating, but the [by far] biggest thing is closer to correct than it's ever been.

You could replace commissioners and players as well. It doesn't matter what it is, they always negotiate in favor of a better money split at the end of the day. Players could negotiate a 65-game schedule, guaranteed health benefits for retired and future players, etc but at the end of the day they want as much money as possible going into the pockets of current players. Small markets owners could have favored cap reform and competition, but at the end of the day they always stand down in favor of money. They are just used for leverage but they are ok with it if it means more money.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

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Would be fun to have him on the bench just so this board could bitch about not giving him opportunities. That said, did is 3.5 years younger than Marjon and had shown flashes when healthy.

[Matches Malone]

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[Badgerlander]

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Would be fun to have him on the bench just so this board could bitch about not giving him opportunities. That said, did is 3.5 years younger than Marjon and had shown flashes when healthy.

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[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

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Would be fun to have him on the bench just so this board could bitch about not giving him opportunities. That said, did is 3.5 years younger than Marjon and had shown flashes when healthy.

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I would be pretty excited if we signed him. I think he has more potential than a few guys on our roster. I looked at his 3 point shooting and was like it's not thaaaaat bad.... Then realized that was his FG%. More useful than TA and arguably skill has more potential than AJJ, Marjon or AJG, but I don't really think his skill set or time line realistically adds value over a vet like Gallo signed annually at the deadline

[ackypoo]

with the exception of this season which he hasnt played, poku improved significantly every year.

doubt we're the team to help him develop though. as we appear to suck at developing anyone.

if i were running the wizards, id sign poku and killian hayes. i know people think hayes stinks, but youll never convince me theres not upside there.

[emunney]

I think Poku is really bad and has mainly just been happy to be in the NBA. I don't think he's got the drive to make good on anything close to his potential.

[Baddy Chuck]

Man, if you were told you could sign Poku AND Isaiah Roby midseason a few years ago peoples heads would have exploded.

[engelmartin]

Gilyard got waved by Memphis. Would be a pretty solid get for the second 2-way.

Edit: nevermind he’s tiny.

[Badgerlander]

I think Poku is really bad and has mainly just been happy to be in the NBA. I don't think he's got the drive to make good on anything close to his potential.

Yeah one of those weird anthony randolph type guys. Just turned 22 in december. So many tools, curious to see where he lands.

[drdrG]

The way Doris and Redick talk about the Celtics, I'm convinced they are one of the best teams ever

[Matches Malone]

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[emunney]

Watch them go on a run and obliterate his trade value.